Music leaf turner



2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

(No Model.)

J. R. SAYB.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

No. 351,800. Patented Nov. 2 9886.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. R. SAYE.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

No. 351,800. Patented-Nov. 2, 1886.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES REGINALD SAYE, OF ST. JOHN, NEW ERUNSXVIOK, CANADA, ASSIGNOR ()F ONE- THIRD TO GEORGE A. KNODELL SAME PLACE.

AND RICHARD RODGERS, OF

MUSIC-LEAF TURNERQ SPECIFEOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,800, dated November 2, 1886,

Application filed March 20, 1886. Serial No. 195,994. (No model.)

,To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES REGINALD SAYE,

a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at St. John, in the county of St. John and Province of New Brunswick, Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvei'nent in Music- Portfolios, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in music-portfolios; and it consists of the peculiar and novel construction and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth,and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved musicportfolio Willi a clamping device for securely holding sheetmusic in place when it is to be used, and which can be very easily and readily operated to re tain and release the music therefrom; to pro vide an improved device for instantaneously and effectively turning the leaves of the music in their proper order or succession; to provide means for preventing music inclosed in the portfolio from becoming accidentally misplaced 5 and to provide an improved device which shall be very simple, strong, and durable in its construction, thoroughly effective and reliable in operation, and cheap and COlI1- paratively inexpensive of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention, with the' leaves of the portfolio thrown. open. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the sheet-music holder detached from the portfolio. Fig. 3 is a see tional view through the leaf-turning device on the line a; of Fig. 1 enlarged. Fig. 4. is an enlarged perspective view of one of the turning-arms, its retaining-clamp, and the retracting-spring thereof.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates my improved music-portfolio that is provided with the two leaves a, which are of any suitable rigid material, and flexibly connected together near or at their adjacent edges, as at a, so that they can fold one upon the other, and thereby concoal and inclose the music placed therein for safe keepin One of the leaves is provided with elastic bands or straps B, that are perinanently secured thereto at their ends. These bands are preferably two. in number, and arranged longitudinally of the leaves near one of the side edges, so that an intermediate space between them is provided; but it is not essential that they shall be longitndinahorany delinite number be employed, as they can be disposed transversely of the leaf to which they are secured and varied in number as circunr 6c stances or experience may require. The music that is not to be used, and which is to be inclosed within the portfolio, is inserted beneath the elastic bands, and thus securely held in place against accidental displacement.

O designates the clamp for retaining the sheet of music that is to be used in place, and which comprises a rigid or immovable strip, D, that is secured near the hinged edge of one of the leavesa of the portfolio, and E, a similar clampiugstrip, thatisprovided at its ends with the brackets d, which are rigidly secured thereto by screws, and work in grooves a, formed in the ends of the immovable clamping-strip.

These brackets are thus guided in their move- 73 ments in the grooves and provided with a lateral arm, 6, at the free end, which carries a stud, e, that extends inwardly and works in an opening, a, in the ends of theimmovable clamping strip, a coiled spring,f, encircling each of the studs 0', and which hear at one end against the strip 1) and at the other end against the bracket, to normally hold the clampingstrip E in engagement with the rigid strip D. The strip E is movable laterally ofthe rigid strip D throughout itslength, and it is provided at or near its middle with a knob or tingcrpiece,

f, which is grasped by the fingers to move the strip E laterally of the strip D, to insert the edges of a sheet of music between the strips, 0 and upon release of the pull on the strip Ethe springsfwill draw the latter into engagement with the music and the strip D. The music is thus held very firmly in place, and to detach it from the clamping-strips itis only necessary 5 to draw the strip E laterally against the tension of the springs.

G designates my improved leafturner, that is especially adapted for use in connection with the clamp G, and which is secured upon the no same leaf of the portfolio as the clamp, preferably at and transversely across the lower edge of the portfolio-leaf. The leaf-turner G is provided with a base, G, which has a recessed portion, 9, near one end, in which is located a series of coiled retractin g-sprin gs, H.

I designates a shaft or pin, that is arranged parallel with the hinged edge of the leaf a and supported in suitable bearings, 2', that are properly secured to the base.

J designates a series of arms, preferably six or four in number, each of which is provided at one end with a perforated hub, J, all of which hubs are j ournaled on the shaft 1, that is common to them all, the contiguous faces of the hubs being slightly flattened, and bearing against each other to prevent lateral movement and insure the proper working of the arms. Each of the hubs J is provided on its periphery with a groove in which fits and works a cord, wire, or other flexible connection, H. One end of each of these cords or wires is secured to each of the hubs, and the other end thereof is secured to the free end of one of the retracting coiled springs H, which in turn are secured to the base within the recess 9 therein, the springs and connections being eoncealed from view by a strip or cover, J, that is suitably secured in place byscrews or thelike. The free end of each of the pivoted arms J is bentlaterally to provide a right-angled arm, k, and then to form a loop, it, that lies in the plane of the arms, and it is then bent laterally and back upon itself to form a retaining-lip, 75-, that exerts a pressure or spring action on the edge of a sheet of music that is inserted and clamped therein. The free ends of thepivoted arms J are engaged by clamps K, which are arranged in series that correspond in number to the arms. These clamps are arranged, one in rear of and above one another, at one end of the base, and the arms are successively made longer or greater in length to engage their respective clamps, the free ends of the arms being bent upwardly, so as to lie over the lateral arms 7; of the pivoted arms J. These clamps are .provided with a base, on which is pivoted a springactuated finger-piece, Z, that engages the lateral arm 7: of its proper arm J, and when the device is to be used for turning the leaves of music, the retaining-spring arms 75" are engaged with the lower edges of the sheets, the upper longer arm, 1, being engaged with the first page to be turned, the arm 2 with the second page, and so on in order.

lVhen the player is performing on the piano or other instrument and the end of the first page has been reached, the finger-piece Z is depressed to release the arm J, numbered 1, and the tension of the retracting'spring H thereon will draw the free end laterally over to the oppositeleaf of the portfolio, and with it the page that is to be turned, and so on, each arm being successively and independently operated on.

The leaf-turner is very positive and reliable in operation, easily and readily adjusted for use, and only requires a slight pressure on the clamps to instantaneously effect the turning of the page.

lily-improved portfolio is very simple in its construction, is portable and easily carried around, can be easily adjusted for use on a piano, organ, or other instrument, or a musicstand, and is cheap and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a musicportfolio consisting of the connected foldable leaves, a rigid strip carried by one of thcleaves, a laterally-movable strip arranged parallel with the rigid strip, the bracket secured to the rigid strip for guiding the movable strip, and the springs interposed between lips of the brackets, and the movable strip to force the latter toward the rigid strip, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a musicportfolio, the foldable leaves having a rigid strip provided with guidegroovcs, in combination with a laterally-movable strip, the brackets carried by the movable strip and having the studs and coiled springs encircling the studs, substantially as described.

In a music-leaf turner, the combination of a series of pivoted swinging arms, eachhaving a right-angled lip, 7t, arranged alongside of and out of contact with each other when the device is in use, a spring connected to each arm, and an independent clamp for each arm arranged in line therewith to engage the end It and out of the path of the adjoining arms, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination ofa series of independent swinging arms, each having a grooved hub at one end and a rightangled lip, k, at its opposite end, a common shaft passing through the hubs of all the arms, the coiled retraetile springs, the cords intermediate of the springs and hubs of the arms for actuating the latter, and an independent clamp for each arm arranged in line therewith to engage the lip k thereof and out of the path of the adjoining arms, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

5. A swinging carrying arm for leaf-turn ing devices,having a bent end or lip, 71, formed into a loop, and abinding-arm, 76", arranged transversely and to one side of the loop to clamp the leaf between the loop and arm, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of tw) witnesses.

JAMES REGINALD SAYE.

Vitnesses:

H. O. llLiRTIN, JOHN A. W LDON. 

